It would be an honor for Scot Mondore and I to be elected Board of Education trustees on May 19. Our desire is to put all of us “in the loop” in the decision making process. The state aid forecast for RSCS will be no better in another year. Both Albany and Washington are offering little long-range help and locally we need to “think outside the box” to offer our students the best education we can with what taxpayers can afford.

Residents are struggling to make ends meet; we live in a rural area where farmers’ milk checks have shown a marked decrease, full time jobs with benefits are difficult to secure, and retirees are asked to pay more and are left with less. We will ask the difficult questions and always have the needs of the students first and foremost in our decisions.

Nancy Brown and Nancy Clickman are to be commended for their years of service on the board, yet it is the time to bring change to the board with new faces and new energy. That change is Scot Mondore and Bruce Watson.

Voting is from 7 AM to 8 PM in the school’s foyer (center entrance). You do not need to be registered! If you are 18 years of age, a resident of the district for 30 days, and a US citizen, you are eligible to vote. Pull the levers for Mondore and Watson; vote for two of the four candidates for board of education.

Our school needs to be in a better place after Tuesday, May 19. RSCS is a people driven business and our students are the product we produce. Our graduates need to be competitive with other schools’ students and we cannot afford to allow complacency and intimidation to prevent change.

Cast your vote and let your voice be heard. It’s too important an election to stay home on May 19 and wait to see how it all plays out.

Scot and I are ready to serve. Take the time and vote for candidates who are independent thinkers and unafraid to ask the tough questions you’ve told us you’re concerned about during this campaign.